Chicago Driver Injured By Takata Airbag Explosion

Automobile Accidents - December 6, 2023

U.S. Auto Safety Regulators Monitoring Unrecalled Takata Airbags After Chicago Driver Seriously Injured

Chicago Driver Injured By Takata Airbag Explosion

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (December 6, 2023) – A driver in Chicago was seriously injured after a Takata airbag in their BMW exploded and hit them with metal fragments.

The accident comes after Takata has recalled over 67 million devices since 2001. At least 26 people have been killed by Takata airbags since May 2009 and many more have been seriously injured.

The civil lawsuits following the injuries and deaths were enough to send Takata of Japan into bankruptcy. In the Chicago accident, the airbag on the driver’s 2014 X3 exploded and sent a large gold colored disc into his lung.

Consequently, U.S. auto regulators are taking a closer look at about 30 million inflators from Takata that have not been recalled.

Liability For Takata Airbag Explosions

Far too many people have been killed or seriously injured by Takata airbags. According to Consumer Reports, “At the heart of the problem is the airbag’s inflator, a metal cartridge loaded with propellant wafers, which in some cases has ignited with explosive force. If the inflator housing ruptures in a crash, metal shards from the airbag can be sprayed throughout the passenger cabin—a potentially disastrous outcome from a supposedly lifesaving device.” There are a number of common injuries associated with Takata airbag explosions.

  • Broken bones
  • Puncture injuries
  • Infections
  • Lacerations
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Concussions

Depending on the facts of any case, a vehicle manufacturer could face liability if someone is injured by one of their products. Companies have a legal responsibility to make products that are reasonably safe. If a company produces airbags or other vehicle component parts that are defective, this could form the basis of a product liability claim. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any injury involving an airbag.

  • Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • Surveillance footage should be reviewed.
  • The vehicle involved in the crash should be examined.
  • An experienced personal injury attorney should be sought.

It can be hard to know where to begin after any car accident. Victims often suffer very serious injuries and may need to take time off of work. To make matters worse, car companies will often do everything that they can in order to deny liability if someone has been injured by one of their products. A personal injury attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Getting Legal Help After Airbag Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the Chicago driver injured in this collision. It is our sincere hope that they are able to make a full recovery. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened so that similar accidents can be prevented.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Takata airbag explosion? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after any accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.